What are the likely eventualities from best to worst if buying land and 'abuse' the 28 day rule for staying on it?

[SoilHugger]

This forum popped up several times as I have been doing research on planning permission and you lads and lasses seem to know the ins and outs of these matters.

If I buy a plot of land somewhere looking for as far away from neighbours what could happen?

I am self sufficient in my van for all the essentials, so nothing to really draw attention to myself (no fires) but just want somewhere to be stationary indefinitely. With the land though I would like to just do low impact manual farming of vegetables and the like and just treat it as a glorified allotment.

I could not envision many wanting to complain about that however reading a case on this forum the other day about someone getting reported for making a track on their own land I cannot be so certain some jobsworth will not be happy about it so want to know what the possible eventualities could be if they did.

I am seeing the biggest challenge, other than finding a smallish parcel of only a couple of acres or so for 20-30k or less, is finding suitable ones in that range away from neighbours.

So it is slim pickings. The smaller plots are most times tacked onto or in culdesac minor roads where I would be right next to a large farm or such so butted right up against, or only a field or so away, where other people live. Are farmers likely to report me?

Reading this forum it seems farmers are not too fond of council workers and planning permission either so as long as I am keeping to myself, not having raves and such, living quietly will most not be bothered about my presence? While driving around various places looking at potential land I have seen many caravans and other ramshackle habitation structures in the corners of fields and I doubt they all have all the proper PP for them.

As much as it pains me as not a natural extrovert, I had considered going to visit potential neighbours before buying on any potential plots that seem promising to 'feel them out' beforehand. I would much prefer it though to be far enough away that I would not feel obligated to do that and just meet them over time if they happened to see me during my movements.

As to the legal aspects what are the most likely eventualities and consequences of such? Also how long would it likely take to be told to get off the land if it happened? I don't want to dig my heels in and cause friction and such if not likely to succeed. I would prefer just cut my loses and sell and go somewhere else.

Best case no one ever reports me or bothers me.

Worst case I am reported very quickly. If this happens what would be the legal process then? If I am living out of the van can I not just drive away for a few weeks or so until things settle down or could I get the equivalent of a 'restraining order' to ban be from my own land? How long would all that likely take? I would not plan to fight anything like that and see it as a 'fair cop' if it happened. As such would it cost me anything or negatively effect my standing in the eyes of the law if I were not to fight it and just sold the land if I was getting hassle?

I figured if I got 6 months - 1 year out of one piece of land and got told to leave after such time then I could just sell up and find another and rinse and repeat until I got to somewhere that no one bothered me. I would have nothing on the land and could just up sticks whenever so not much bother in that sense.

Any other considerations or eventualities those of you with more experience with these matters could comment?

 

[BRB John]

Do you take your van out to work? Or would the van be sited permanently and you'd have another vehicle for travelling?
I'm not familiar with English law but I don't see any problem with it.
But I suspect you'd struggle to find what effectively is a Building plot.

Probably don't want to know but what are you doing with your sewage?

 

[FMF74]

Plenty of small fields bought around here and people have set up camp. Council do nothing and would rather spend their time making it more difficult for those trying to build legitimately

 

[SoilHugger]

Do you take your van out to work? Or would the van be sited permanently and you'd have another vehicle for travelling?
I'm not familiar with English law but I don't see any problem with it.
But I suspect you'd struggle to find what effectively is a Building plot.

Probably don't want to know but what are you doing with your sewage?

I have the benefit of having an online business so I can work wherever I have an internet connection so yes in this case I would always be posted up there aside from sporadic food restocking.

Well there are quite a few dog end plots that do come available in my price range on the commercial sites such as onthemarket just not often, so it is a waiting game mostly.

Usually bracken filled bits of woodland in between fields.

Earth toilets are a thing no? Luxury is not my main aim here!

 

[SoilHugger]

Plenty of small fields bought around here and people have set up camp. Council do nothing and would rather spend their time making it more difficult for those trying to build legitimately

Yes I have seen quite a few reasonably priced fields.

I am thinking in terms of working it I would probably prefer a field to woodland. Will also give better solar exposure to keep my van electrics charged.

One consideration that came to mind once I read that building tracks on your own land is forbidden was how I would drive on the grass as it will get mucked up soon won't it. I did then read though about those mesh things used for festivals and such so thought I could just lay a row of that across the length of the field to a far corner.

 

[ajcc]

Gypsies do it . If you don’t upset neighbours not a problem, stay under the radar. What eye doesn’t see heart won’t grieve about.
Otherwise you have to conform with a lot of rules especially if you expect any benefits from society. But you know that anyway.
Likely eventualities? Injunction, court costs order. Or you might not be unlucky and nobody kicks up??

 

[Nearly]

A chrome transit and a couple of piebald ponies and you're fine.

Envy is the main motivator. Best to stay under everyone's radar, including the google satellite.

 

[SoilHugger]

Gypsies do it . If you don’t upset neighbours not a problem, stay under the radar. What eye doesn’t see heart won’t grieve about.
Otherwise you have to conform with a lot of rules especially if you expect any benefits from society. But you know that anyway.

No, I am no longer a benefit scrounger . I used it for many years and made good with my own business and now putting back in the coffers with income tax.

That reminds me of another thing though. Would registering a postal address be out of the question as it would then flag me on the system?

I would expect so however I read the opposite on a some off grid article that you want to register one asap if you are going for the 4/10 year retrospective rule.

Postal address and not being able to order anything online will certainly be the thing I miss most as all the other utilties were easilt moved off grid but not being able to order stuff online will be a hard one. I am sure I will get used to it though and would not risk being flagged if indeed it would put me on the radar.

Having a postal address doesn't necessarily mean you live somewhere permanently though does it? Businesses have addresses and no one lives in them.

 

[SoilHugger]

A chrome transit and a couple of piebald ponies and you're fine.

Envy is the main motivator. Best to stay under everyone's radar, including the google satellite.

I could tarp over the van but then no solar .

 

[spin cycle]

if the right plot came up jdi.......ask no questions of authority.....there's someone set up quite a sophisticated camp in a copse/scrub by the side of the road near me....suppose no-one knows who land belongs to even

 

[SoilHugger]

Also, as was my main query, what is the legal process if luck is not on my side and I were reported?

Like to know beforehand what the possible consequences would be. Nothing to insignificant?

Do they then have to prove I am living there full time? Wouldn't I first get some kind of 'official' coming to see me. If so I would just say they are mistaken and then, being aware they are now watching me, I can just stay sporadically for a while?

 

[Optimus]

I would not worry too much about it.

The lad next door too us bought a 8 acre field.had various animals over the years an a caravan on it.couple of years ago he built a little shed with a small saw mill in it.had no planning for that an now has built another building fully kitted out but no electric.again no planning an sits bang opposite a row of cottages.

 

[Bogweevil]

Underground - make a bunker for your van, no one will know you are there and you are well set up for WW3.

 

[delilah]

https://tlio.org.uk/chapter7/

 

[Exfarmer]

it is a huge matter of luck, one neighbour from hell and you are stuffed as the council will normally only take action if they are pushed.

 

[PhilipB]

No, I am no longer a benefit scrounger . I used it for many years and made good with my own business and now putting back in the coffers with income tax.

That reminds me of another thing though. Would registering a postal address be out of the question as it would then flag me on the system?

I would expect so however I read the opposite on a some off grid article that you want to register one asap if you are going for the 4/10 year retrospective rule.

Postal address and not being able to order anything online will certainly be the thing I miss most as all the other utilties were easilt moved off grid but not being able to order stuff online will be a hard one. I am sure I will get used to it though and would not risk being flagged if indeed it would put me on the radar.

Having a postal address doesn't necessarily mean you live somewhere permanently though does it? Businesses have addresses and no one lives in them.

I think a postal address is a big red flag. Last time I looked into it, you needed to provide details of planning permission for the structure in any case.

As for a couple of your other points- councils don't really care about dilapidated caravans in field corners if they're empty, it's people living in them that they care about.

A couple of deck chairs, a few vegetable beds- you quickly become pretty noticable from a satellite.

But it's basically neighbours reporting you that's the risk.

 

[PhilipB]

I think in your situation, buy the field, build a rather ramshackled shed, live in that.

All right-thinking people love sheds and love the thought of living in one, but most people have a suspicion of people who live in caravans/things with wheels.

 

[SoilHugger]

it is a huge matter of luck, one neighbour from hell and you are stuffed as the council will normally only take action if they are pushed.

This is what I still haven't got an answer to yet...what will happen if reported?

Don't they then have to prove I am living there? I don't see how they can monitor my movements 24/7. If I get someone come round I will know they are 'on to me' at which point I could make myself scarce for a while. Take a trip around in my van etc.

Even if I am rumbled what happens then? What are the legal proceedings? Like I said above I would not mind if I got 6+ months (more the better) and just sell up if any heat came and find another place to try my luck again.

Will I just get told to clear off? Ie no legal penalties or fines so long as I don't resist and comply right away?

 

[SoilHugger]

I think a postal address is a big red flag. Last time I looked into it, you needed to provide details of planning permission for the structure in any case.

As for a couple of your other points- councils don't really care about dilapidated caravans in field corners if they're empty, it's people living in them that they care about.

A couple of deck chairs, a few vegetable beds- you quickly become pretty noticable from a satellite.

But it's basically neighbours reporting you that's the risk.

Yes also with the postal address I was reading up on it and if one wasn't already in place you have to contact the council to ask for permission and approval and it apparently goes to some kind of board for them to decide if what you choose for a name is in keeping with current naming of the road.

Vegetable beds I don't think are red flags at all. I can be using it for leasure and not living there. As mentioned like a glorified allotment. No one, at least traditionally, lives at allotments yet are growing stuff.

 

[SoilHugger]

I think in your situation, buy the field, build a rather ramshackled shed, live in that.

All right-thinking people love sheds and love the thought of living in one, but most people have a suspicion of people who live in caravans/things with wheels.

Well my van from the outside looks just like a bog standard workvan. I made it that way because I originally wanted to do the stealth vanlife thing, parking in residential streets, but quickly found I disliked that having to move around every evening which is what led me to this idea of buying a little bit of land to park.